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Keeping a Garden Journal

With Autumn blowing in it’s cooler temperatures, it’s a great time to jot down some notes from this year’s garden. Things to note:

Where you planted your vegetables. Plant rotation is key to a healthy garden and keeping disease under control. Different plants take different nutrients from the soil. Allow three years between plantings in the same location.

Spacing. I have often looked out and thought, “Wow, I should have given that plant about 3 inches more space.” Perhaps you had an annual that grew too tall in the front of your bed, or you had a small guy stuffed in the back. It happens…just take note!

Perennials. Note where you have perennials and remember that the following year they’ll be a little larger. Something to think about is whether you want that perennial to be that large next year. Dividing them come spring revitalizes and makes them manageable again.

Colors. Take a quick note of the colors prominent in your garden to help decide what colors you might want to emphasize next year.

New Plants. When those seed catalogs come, I can never remember what I had thought about 4 months previous. Note new plants you’ve envied or ones that friends have mentioned did well in their gardens.

Timing. Was there a part of the summer where the garden lacked blooms? Find plants that will fill the spaces next year.